Door seal gasket for combined microwave and self-cleaning oven

ABSTRACT

An electrically conductive, heat resistant gasket is provided for sealing the door in an oven of the combination pyrolytic self-cleaning and microwave type. The gasket has a knitted stainless steel outer jacket for making electrical contact between the oven door and the oven body and further to make a seal to prevent the escape of microwave radiation from the oven cavity. A woven glass fiber sleeve comprising a pair of coextensive chambers is disposed coextensively within the outer jacket for sealing the oven against the escape of heat, smoke and gases, especially those generated in the self-cleaning process. Arranged coextensively within one chamber of the sleeve is a flat, metal insert and a resilient core, the combination serving to prevent gathering of the gasket as it is bent around the corners of the oven door and to insure a controlled width and uniform sealing around the entire periphery of the cavity opening. Gasket mounting means in the form of a glass fiber bead draw-string is arranged coextensively within a second chamber of the sleeve for aiding in sub-assembling the gasket on the door inner panel.

United States Patent [191 Milburn May 21, 1974 DOOR SEAL GASKET FORCOMBINED MICROWAVE AND SELF-CLEANING OVEN [75] Inventor: Frank L.Milburn, Louisville, Ky.

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company,

Louisville, Ky.

22 Filed: Mar. 28, 1973 211 App]. No.: 345,716

[52] US. Cl 213/1055, 49/479, 87/6, 174/35 GC, 219/397, 277/230 [51]Int. Cl. H05b 9/06 [58] Field of Search 219/1055, 396, 397, 413; 174/35GC, 35 MS; 277/234, 235 R, 235 A, 230; 29/193; 49/479; 87/6 [5 6]References Cited.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,578,764 5/1971 Nunnally et a1 219/397 ux FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 849,854 8/l970 Canada 2197397 ux PrimaryExaminer-J. V. Truhe Assistant Examiner-Hugh D. .laeger Attorney, Agent,or Firm--Richard L. Caslin; Francis H. Boos, Jr.

[ 57 ABSTRACT An electrically conductive, heat resistant gasket isprovided for sealing the door in an oven of the combination pyrolyticself-cleaning and microwave type. The gasket has a knitted stainlesssteel outer jacket for making electrical contact between the oven doorand the oven body and further to make a seal to prevent the escape ofmicrowave radiation from the oven cavity. A woven glass fiber sleevecomprising a pair of coextensive chambers is disposed coextensivelywithin the outer jacket for sealing the oven against the escape of heat,smoke and gases, especially those generated in the self-cleaningprocess. Arranged coextensively within one chamber of the sleeve is aflat. metal insert and a resilient core, the combination serving toprevent gathering of the gasket as it is bent around the corners of theoven door and to insure a controlled width and uniform sealing aroundthe entire periphery of the cavity opening. Gasket mounting means in theform of a glass fiber bead draw-string is arranged coextensively withina second chamber of the sleeve for aiding in sub-assembling the gasketon the door inner panel.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAYZI m4 318 1 2 3 1 6 SHEET 2 BF 2DOOR SEAL GASKET FOR COMBINED MICROWAVE AND SELF-CLEANING OVENBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a means forsealing around the door of a microwave oven and more particularly, to adoor seal gasket for a combination microwave and self-cleaning oven forassuring electrical grounding contact between the oven door and the ovenliner, and further, for sealing the oven against the escape of heat,smoke and gases therefrom.

In a combination microwave and self-cleaning electric oven, the doorseal gasket has two functions. First, it serves to prevent the leakageof microwave radiation from the oven by providing an electrical contactto effect grounding between the door and the oven liner. Secondly, itmust seal the oven against the escape of heat,- smoke and gases,especially those generated in the elevated temperature cycle of theself-cleaning process. To effect the former, metallic mesh gaskets arecommonly used. To be effective, such gaskets must make a uniform contactbetween the oven door and the oven liner around the entire periphery ofthe oven cavity opening. Arcing may occur which may destroy portions ofthe mesh if there is not total contact; likewise, radiation may beallowed to escape from the interior of the oven. This has been anespecially common problem since the surfaces of the oven liner and doorwhich are mated to the gasket are often irregular; in other words,

not truly flat. As a result, it has been difficult for the sealinggasket to conform to the surface irregularities, especially since thecore of the sealing gasket was not a truly resilient material butinstead was a somewhat firm material chosen for its ability to hold itsshape. Another problem has been that of gathering or puckering of thegasket material as it is bent around the comers of the oven door, with aresulting incomplete or partial gasket to oven liner seal. Leakageproblems were also common in the combination microwave and selfcleaningoven gasket wherein it is necessary to make a heat-insulating andgas-tight seal between the door and the oven body to prevent the escapeof heat, smoke and gases during the self-cleaning process.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,029,805 Scott, describes an oven door seal gasket formedof a resilient material, such as silicone rubber, in the shape of a halfellipse cut along its major axis. Inserted within the gasket is a metalretainer which fits snugly against the gasket material along the halfellipse major axis and which provides lateral rigidity to thecross-section of the sealing strip while allowing compression of thegasket material to conform somewhat to irregular surfaces. Such a gasketwould be usable only in a conventional oven as there is no provision formaking electrical grounding contact between the door and the oven body,nor can the gasket material endure the temperatures of the pyrolyticself-cleaning process.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,578,764 nunnally et al., discloses an oven seal gasketfor sealing a self-cleaning oven. Such a gasket has no provision forsealing against the escape of microwave radiation and for makingelectrical contact between the oven door and the oven body nor does itsolve the problem of corner gathering or puckering.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,459,921 Fussell et al., assigned to the same assignee asthe present invention, describes a gasket structure for use in acombination electric and electronic oven. The gasket provided therein isgenerally cylindrical in shape and is formed of a metal braid havingdisposed coextensively therewithin a batt of glass fibers to sealagainst the escape of gases. Although compressible, the gasket describedpresents problems in effecting a complete seal between the oven door andthe oven body around the periphery of the opening. Problems have beenespecially noted in effecting an electrical seal as the gasket is bentaround the comers of the door, there being a gathering of material atthose points. There is no provision of resiliency within the gasket toallow it to conform to the irregularities of the surfaces with which itmust mate.

A reliable oven door seal gasket is needed, therefore, which can conformto the irregular surfaces of the oven body and the oven door with whichit mates in order to seal the oven against the escape of heat, gases andsmoke and, further, against the escape of microwave radiation thereform.This sealing should be uniform not only in the straight portions of thegasket but, likewise, in the portions where the gasket has been bentaround the corners to conform to the shape of the door and,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, thereis provided sealing means for a microwave oven door comprising anendless, flexible, resilient, conductive, outer jacket for makingelectrical contact between the oven door and the oven body and which isadapted to fit around the periphery of the front opening of theoven-cooking cavity. Disposed coextensively within this outer jacket isan elongated, flexible, electrically insulating sleeve formed so as toprovide a pair of hollow, tube-like chambers having a common wallportion. Disposed coextensively within a first of these sleeve chambersis a plane, reinforcing insert shaped to conform to the periphery of theoven cavity sealing surface, the insert being located adjacent to thesleeve common wall, the purpose being to prevent gathering of thissealing means as it is shaped around comers. A resilient core member isdisposed coextensively within this first sleeve chamber for exertinggenerally radial pressure against the insert and further against thesleeve and thereby the outer jacket to maintain the insert in place andto effect uniform sealing of the oven door when the door is in itsclosed and locked position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, showing acombination self-cleaning microwave oven with the oven door in theclosed position to reveal the relation of the gasket of the presentinvention, in one form thereof, with its surroundings;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the inside surface of the oven door of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken generally along theline 33 of FIG. 2, parts of the oven door having been omitted, showingthe gasket of the present invention in relation to a portion of the ovendoor structure.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, broken away to show individual components thereofin relation to each other.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view, partly broken away, taken generally alongthe line 5-5 of FIG. 3, showing the junction of the free ends of thegasket of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 of thedrawing, there is illustrated an oven of the combination pyrolyticself-cleaning and microwave type. Portions of oven liner 14 are shownwhich. includes an out-turned lip or flange 16 formed thereof around theentire periphery of the cavity opening. Portions of front door framemember 20 are shown, oven liner 14 being in abutting engagementtherewith when liner 14 is suitably affixed to the frame of oven 10 byappropriate means. An oven door 24 is provided, here shown in itsupright or closed position, and affixed to the frame member byappropriate hinge means not shown through pin 26. Door sealing meanssuch as door seal gasket 28 is provided and is attached to door 24 toseal against the escape from the oven cavity of microwave energy as wellas heat, gases and smoke. Door latch mechanism 30 is provided to lockdoor 24 in its closed position and further to compress gasket 28 toeffect a uniform seal around the periphery of the cavity opening. Latchmechanism 30 may be of the type described in Application Ser. No.256,093 White et al., assigned to the same assignee as the presentinvention.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawing, the inner side of door 24 isshown that a better understanding may be had of the arrangement ofgasket 28 with respect to the door. The inner surface of door 24 iscomprised'of an inner door panel 34 and a door liner 36 (better seen inFIG. 3)

In accordance with the present invention, door seal gasket 28 isattached to the inner surfaces of the oven door 24 to provide,.when thedoor 24 is in its closed and locked position, a seal against the escapefrom the oven cavity of microwave energy as well as gases, smoke andheat which are generated in the elevated temperature cycle of theself-cleaning process. An understanding may be had of the operation ofthe pyrolytic self-cleaning process by referring to US. Pat. No.3,121,158 Hurko, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

A better understanding may be had of the structure of the door sealgasket of the present invention in one form thereof by referring to FIG.4. A hollow, elongated conductive outer jacket, such as metallic meshjacket 40 has disposed coextensively therein an elongated, electricallyinsulating sleeve, such as heat resistant, woven glass fiber sleeve 44.Woven glass fiber sleeve 44 is formed, as by sewing at 46 (shown betterin FIG. 3) to provide a pair of hollow, tubelike coextensive chambers 48and 50 joined by a common wall portion or a common coextensive webportion such as shown at 52. A resilient core member such as metallicmesh core 56 is disposed coaxially within a first sleeve chamber 48. Aplane, reinforcing insert such as flat metal insert 60, shaped toconform to the periphery of the oven cavity opening, is inserted withinfirst chamber 48 so as to be disposed between mesh core 56 and webportion 52 so as to form the first chamber 48 into a transversecross-sectional shape of a half-ellipse as divided along its major axis.As can be seen in FIG. 3, insert 60 is located essentially on the majoraxis of this partial ellipse and serves to give gasket 28 a uniformlyconsistent shape or cross section even as the gasket material is bentaround the comers to fit the shape of the oven cavity opening. Insert 60further serves to insure a good contact between mesh jacket 40 and itsmating surfaces of door panel 34 and door liner 36. Disposed within thesecond sleeve chamber 50 is a tension member such as heat resistant,woven glass fiber, tensioning draw-string 64 which serves to aid in theassembly of gasket 28 to the door inner panel 34.

In assembly, door seal gasket 28 is placed over inner door panel 34 inthe general relation shown in FIG. 3. Tensioning draw-string 64 has apair of free ends 66 and 68, as shown in FIG. 5. Free ends 66 and 68 ofdraw-string 64 are then pulled tov take up the slack in the draw-stringand further, to tighten the gasket 28 to conform to the shape of innerdoor panel 34. Free ends 66 and 68 of the draw-string 64, after havingbeen tightened to take up any slack to fit gasket 28 to inner panel 34,may then be tied or clamped. A termination band 72, comprising a woven,glass fiber inner core covered by a metallic mesh outer jacket, iswrapped around the free ends 74 and 76 of gasket 28 to form a junctionthereof so as toeffect a complete seal around the entire periphery ofthe cavity opening. The free ends of termination band 72 are arranged sothat they will fall within the interior of the door as defined by innerpanel 34 and door liner 36. Termination band 72 then is secured bysuitable means such as by stapling of sewing to web portion 52 as shownat 78. The effect then of termination band 72 is to provide a leak-freeseal at the junction of the terminal ends 74 and 76 of the door sealgasket 28 thereby yielding an endless gasket. Door liner 36 is thenassembled so as to mate 'with the prior assembly of the gasket 28 andthe inner panel 34 such that the mating face of door liner 36 will alignproperly with the major axis of the half ellipse formed of door gasket28. Inner panel 34 and door liner 38 are then securely fastened togetherby an appropriate means such as sheet metal screws (not shown).

Referring again to FIG. 1, oven door 24 is shown in its closed andlatched position with door seal gasket 28 forming a seal between thedoor 24 and the lip flange 16 formed around the periphery of thebox-like oven liner 14. A conductive coating of silver alloy or the likehas been applied to the surface of flange 16 as well as to the flangedsurface of inner panel 34 which is in contact with gasket 28. Such anapplication is described in US. Pat. No. 3,459,921 Fussell et'al.,assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. It isconceivable then, that these surfaces may not always be truly flat orparallel. It is, nevertheless, necessary that gasket 28 conform to thesemating surfaces as closely as possible to prevent damage to the gasketmaterial from electrical arcing as well as to prevent the leakage ofmicrowave radiation from the oven cavity and to further prevent theescape of heat, smoke and gases generated within the oven cavity.

Gasket 28 is able to accomplish these ends through features inherent inits design. Conductive mesh outer jacket 40 serves to make an electricalcontact between door 24 and oven liner 16. In order for this contact tobe uniform and to conform to the irregularities of the mating surfacesof flange l6 and panels 34 and 36 of door 24, the metal insert 60 andmesh core 56 have been provided. Insert 60 serves to maintain a uniform,half-ellipse shape of first chamber 48 of the gasket 28 and further toprevent gathering or buckling of the chamber 48 as would otherwise occuras the gasket is bent around one of its four corners. Insert 60 thenfurther serves to insure a good contact between mesh 40 and the matingsurfaces of door panels 34 and 36. To insure conformance of gasket 28,and particularly of outer mesh jacket 40, with the surfaceirregularities of the flange 16, the resilient mesh core 56 is providedto exert a radial pressure against outer jacket 40 and, likewise,against insert 60 to hold it in place. In other words, upon locking thedoor 24, the gasket 28 will be compressed somewhat, but upon opening thedoor 24, gasket 28, and thereby jacket 40, will spring back tosubstantially the original shape, that of the half-ellipse form of thefirst chamber 48.

To seal the oven 10 against the escape of heat, gases and smoke whichare generated in the elevated temperature, pyrolytic self-cleaningprocess, woven glass fiber sleeve 44 is provided. Chamber 48 of sleeve44 is also responsive to this radially exerted pressure from mesh core56 and, therefore, chamber 48 will also substantially conform to theirregular surfaces of flange 16 and to those of door panels 34 and 36 toeffect a gas-tight seal around the periphery of flange 16.

Gasket 28 is able to endure the effects of the higher temperatures ofthe pyrolytic self-cleaning process and concurrently to effect a sealagainst the escape of microwave radiation from the oven cavity as theresult of a careful choice of gasket materials. Outer jacket 40 is aknitted mesh made of 0.006 inch diameter lnconel stainless steel wire.Resilient core 56 is a tubular mesh made of knitted stainless steelwire, while sleeve 44 and draw-string 64 are of tightly woven glassfiber fabric. Insert 60 is of 0.050 inch stamped aluminum.

It should be considered that there are other materials which might servein their stead. For example, a core of silicone rubber may be used toreplace the knitted mesh core 56 for use in a non-pyrolytic oven.Likewise, outer jacekt 40 may be of any electrically conductive butheat-insulating material which could withstand the rigors of theatmospheres of the present applications.

A further advantage of such a compressible gasket is that the spacingbetween the door and the oven liner need not be uniform from the top ofthe door to the hinged bottom. The gasket is compressible to allow forsuch contingencies.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodimentdescribed heretofore is considered to be the presently preferred form ofthis invention. In accordance with the patent statutes, hinges may bemade in the disclosed apparatus and the manner in which it is usedwithout actually departing from the true spirit and scope of thisinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a microwave oven of the type having a body and a door forming anoven cavity, the body further having a sealing surface for mating withthe oven door when the door is in its closed position, improved sealingmeans therefor, comprising:

a. an endless, flexible, conductive outer jacket for making electricalcontact between said oven door and the oven body and arranged to fitaround the periphery of the opening thereto; an elongated, flexible,electrically-insulating sleeve disposed coextensively within said outerjacket, the combined jacket and sleeve being formed to provide a pair ofhollow tube-like coextensive chambers having a common wall portion, oneof the chambers serving as means for mounting the sealing means;

a planar, reinforcing insert shaped to conform to the periphery of theoven cavity sealing surface, the insert being disposed coextensivelywithin another of said sleeve chambers adjacent said sleeve common wallfor preventing gathering of said sealing means as it is formed aroundcomers thereof; and

d. a resilient core member disposed coextensively within said othersleeve chamber for exerting generally radial pressure against saidinsert and against said sleeve and likewise said outer jacket tomaintain said insert in place and further to effect uniform sealing ofsaid oven door when said door is in its closed and locked position.

2. The sealing means of claim 1 wherein the conductive outer jacket isof knitted metal mesh and the electrically-insulating sleeve is of wovenfiber glass mesh.

3. The sealing means of claim 2 wherein the resilient core member is atubular knitted wire mesh.

4. In a combination self-cleaning and microwave oven of the type havingan oven liner with an outtumed lip formed around the periphery of theopening thereof and further having an oven door formed with an innerpanel and a door liner so as to provide, in its closed position, amating surface with the oven liner lip around the periphery of the ovenopening, door sealing means therefor comprising:

a. a hollow, elongated, flexible, conductive outer jacket for makingelectrical grounding contact between said oven door and said oven linerto prevent the escape of microwave radiation from said oven;

b. an elongated, electrically-insulating, heatresistant, flexible sleevedisposed within said outer jacket for sealing said oven against theescape of heat, smoke and gases, the sleeve being formed to provide apair of hollow, tube-like, coextensive chambers having a common wallportion;

c. an elongated, resilient, generally-cylindrical core member disposedcoextensively within a first of said sleeve chambers for exerting radialpressure against said first sleeve chamber and thereby against saidouter jacket to effect uniform sealing of said oven when said door is inits closed and locked position;

(1. a plane, heat-resistant reinforcing insert shaped to conform to theperiphery of said oven liner lip, the insert being disposedcoextensively within said first sleeve chamber between said core memberand said sleeve common wall so as to form of said first chamber ahalf-ellipse as divided along its major axis, the insert beingessentially located on the major axis and held inplace by said coremember for maintaining a uniformly consistent crosssection of saidsealing means around the corners thereof; and

e. a heat-resistant tension member disposed coextensively within asecond of said sleeve chambers, to be tightened upon mounting saidsealing means upon said door inner panel for aiding in the assemblythereof.

5. In a combination self-cleaning and microwave oven of the type havingan oven liner with an outturned lip formed around the periphery of theopening thereof and further having an oven door formed of an innterpanel and a door liner so as to provide, in its closed position, amating surface with the oven liner lip around the periphery of the ovenopening, an endless door seal gasket for mounting on said oven doorcomprising:

a. a hollow, elongated, metallic-mesh outer jacket for making electricalgrounding contact between said oven door and said oven liner to preventthe escape of microwave radiation from said oven;

b. an elongated, glass fiber sleeve disposed coextensively within saidmesh jacket for sealing said oven against the escape of heat, smoke andgases, the

sleeve being formed to provide a pair of hollow, tube-like, coextensivechambers joined by a common, coextensive web portion serving as a gasketmount means;

c. an elongated, resilient, metallic-mesh core disposed within a firstof said sleeve chambers for exerting radial pressure against said sleevechamber and thereby against said outer jacket;

d. a flat metal insert shaped to conform to the periphcry of said ovenliner lip, the insert being disposed coextensively within said firstsleeve chamber between said resilient core and said web portion so as toform of said first chamber a half-ellipse as divided along its majoraxis, the insert being essentially located on the major axis and held inplace by said core for maintaining a uniformly consistentcross-sectional area and for preventing gathering of said gasket aroundcorners thereof 'toeffect uniform sealing and electrical contact of saiddoor with said oven liner when said door is in its closed, lockedposition; and

. a glass fiber bead tensioning drawstring disposed coextensively withina second sleeve chamber, and having a pair of freeends to be tightenedupon mounting said gasket upon said door inner panel for aiding in theassembly thereof.

1. In a microwave oven of the type having a body and a door forming anoven cavity, the body further having a sealing surface for mating withthe oven door when the door is in its closed position, improved sealingmeans therefor, comprising: a. an endless, flexible, conductive outerjacket for making electrical contact between said oven door and the ovenbody and arranged to fit around the periphery of the opening thereto; b.an elongated, flexible, electrically-insulating sleeve disposedcoextensively within said outer jacket, the combined jacket and sleevebeing formed to provide a pair of hollow tube-like coextensive chambershaving a common wall portion, one of the chambers serving as means formounting the sealing means; c. a planar, reinforcing insert shaped toconform to the periphery of the oven cavity sealing surface, the insertbeing disposed coextensively within another of said sleeve chambersadjacent said sleeve common wall for preventing gathering of saidsealing means as it is formed around corners thereof; and d. a resilientcore member disposed coextensively within said other sleeve chamber forexerting generally radial pressure against said insert and against saidsleeve and likewise said outer jAcket to maintain said insert in placeand further to effect uniform sealing of said oven door when said dooris in its closed and locked position.
 2. The sealing means of claim 1wherein the conductive outer jacket is of knitted metal mesh and theelectrically-insulating sleeve is of woven fiber glass mesh.
 3. Thesealing means of claim 2 wherein the resilient core member is a tubularknitted wire mesh.
 4. In a combination self-cleaning and microwave ovenof the type having an oven liner with an out-turned lip formed aroundthe periphery of the opening thereof and further having an oven doorformed with an inner panel and a door liner so as to provide, in itsclosed position, a mating surface with the oven liner lip around theperiphery of the oven opening, door sealing means therefor comprising:a. a hollow, elongated, flexible, conductive outer jacket for makingelectrical grounding contact between said oven door and said oven linerto prevent the escape of microwave radiation from said oven; b. anelongated, electrically-insulating, heat-resistant, flexible sleevedisposed within said outer jacket for sealing said oven against theescape of heat, smoke and gases, the sleeve being formed to provide apair of hollow, tube-like, coextensive chambers having a common wallportion; c. an elongated, resilient, generally-cylindrical core memberdisposed coextensively within a first of said sleeve chambers forexerting radial pressure against said first sleeve chamber and therebyagainst said outer jacket to effect uniform sealing of said oven whensaid door is in its closed and locked position; d. a plane,heat-resistant reinforcing insert shaped to conform to the periphery ofsaid oven liner lip, the insert being disposed coextensively within saidfirst sleeve chamber between said core member and said sleeve commonwall so as to form of said first chamber a half-ellipse as divided alongits major axis, the insert being essentially located on the major axisand held in place by said core member for maintaining a uniformlyconsistent cross-section of said sealing means around the cornersthereof; and e. a heat-resistant tension member disposed coextensivelywithin a second of said sleeve chambers, to be tightened upon mountingsaid sealing means upon said door inner panel for aiding in the assemblythereof.
 5. In a combination self-cleaning and microwave oven of thetype having an oven liner with an out-turned lip formed around theperiphery of the opening thereof and further having an oven door formedof an innter panel and a door liner so as to provide, in its closedposition, a mating surface with the oven liner lip around the peripheryof the oven opening, an endless door seal gasket for mounting on saidoven door comprising: a. a hollow, elongated, metallic-mesh outer jacketfor making electrical grounding contact between said oven door and saidoven liner to prevent the escape of microwave radiation from said oven;b. an elongated, glass fiber sleeve disposed coextensively within saidmesh jacket for sealing said oven against the escape of heat, smoke andgases, the sleeve being formed to provide a pair of hollow, tube-like,coextensive chambers joined by a common, coextensive web portion servingas a gasket mount means; c. an elongated, resilient, metallic-mesh coredisposed within a first of said sleeve chambers for exerting radialpressure against said sleeve chamber and thereby against said outerjacket; d. a flat metal insert shaped to conform to the periphery ofsaid oven liner lip, the insert being disposed coextensively within saidfirst sleeve chamber between said resilient core and said web portion soas to form of said first chamber a half-ellipse as divided along itsmajor axis, the insert being essentially located on the major axis andheld in place by said core for maintaining a uniformly consistentcross-sectional area and for preventing gathering of said gasket aroundcorners thereof to effect uniform Sealing and electrical contact of saiddoor with said oven liner when said door is in its closed, lockedposition; and e. a glass fiber bead tensioning drawstring disposedcoextensively within a second sleeve chamber, and having a pair of freeends to be tightened upon mounting said gasket upon said door innerpanel for aiding in the assembly thereof.